The University of Cape Coast (UCC) has conferred its first-ever Distinguished Fellow Award on the Vice-President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to education, leadership and national development.
The honour was conferred at a ceremony at the university in Cape Coast, where the Chancellor of UCC, Sir Sam Jonah, and the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Denis Worlanyo Aheto, praised the Vice-President for her exemplary leadership, academic achievements and service to the nation.
Sir Sam Jonah described the occasion as historic, noting that it was the first time the university had bestowed the title of Distinguished Fellow on an individual.
“Today is historic. For the first time in the history of this great university, we confer the title of Distinguished Fellow, and we do so upon a daughter of this university who is worthy of being the first,” he said.
Trailblazer
Sir Sam Jonah described Prof. Opoku-Agyemang as a trailblazer whose achievements had opened doors for many young women in Ghana and beyond.
He recalled that she made history as the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast and the first woman to head a public university in Ghana, demonstrating exceptional leadership and academic excellence.
“She broke through not by confrontation but through undeniable excellence,” he said.
The Chancellor added that Prof. Opoku-Agyemang later became Ghana’s first female Vice-President, the highest constitutional office ever held by a woman in the country.
Transformational leadership
According to Sir Sam Jonah, her tenure as Vice-Chancellor marked a period of significant institutional transformation for the university.
He said she strengthened academic programmes, deepened the university’s research culture and enhanced its engagement with national development.
“She governed with a steady and calm hand, a clear mind and an unwavering commitment to the welfare of every member of the university community,” he noted.
He also highlighted her contributions to scholarship in African literature and gender studies, as well as her advocacy for women’s rights and children’s welfare.
Integrity and inspiration
Sir Sam Jonah also emphasised the Vice-President’s integrity and commitment to public service, describing her as a leader who had maintained an unblemished record throughout her career.
“In public life where trust is often tested, she has navigated leadership with her honour completely intact,” he said.
Addressing students, he urged them to draw inspiration from her achievements, noting that she once walked the same paths and studied in the same classrooms as they do today.
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He said the honour reflected the university’s commitment to celebrating intellectual excellence, moral courage and selfless service.
“You have given this university something that cannot be purchased — the glory of a great name,” Sir Sam Jonah said.
Academic legacy
The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Denis Worlanyo Aheto, also praised the Vice-President for her lasting impact on the growth and international recognition of the university.
He said her journey in academia, leadership and public service continued to inspire many across Ghana and beyond.
“Her extraordinary journey in academia, leadership and public service continues to motivate many across Ghana, Africa and the global community at large,” he said.
Prof. Aheto noted that during her tenure as Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang championed academic excellence and strengthened UCC’s global reputation through strategic partnerships with universities around the world.
He said her leadership led to several key developments, including the establishment of the Oil and Gas Institute, the Faculty of Law, the Amissah Arthur Language Centre and a crèche at the preschool.
Other projects completed during her tenure included the expansion of the University Printing Press, the Faculty of Education Lecture Theatre Complex, and the Diagnostic Centre at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital.
Global recognition
Prof. Aheto said the strong foundation laid during her leadership had contributed to the university’s current global recognition.
He noted that UCC has been ranked the top university in Ghana and West Africa for five consecutive years in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and Impact Rankings.
The institution, he added, is also ranked among the top universities in Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, affirming its reputation as a research-intensive university committed to excellence.
Digital expansion
The Acting Vice-Chancellor also announced that the university recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Astra Learning Incorporated to establish a fully digital e-campus aimed at expanding access to higher education.
The initiative, he said, would enhance UCC’s global visibility, strengthen operational efficiency and enable the scalable growth of academic programmes.
The first cohort of students under the programme is expected to begin studies in August 2026, with a projected enrolment of about 10,000 learners annually.
Housing challenge
Despite the progress made, Prof. Aheto said the university was currently facing challenges with student accommodation, as existing residential facilities were no longer able to meet the needs of the growing student population.
He therefore called on alumni, development partners and private investors to support the construction of additional student housing facilities.
He added that the university was ready to explore innovative financing models and partnerships in line with the government’s “Big Push” infrastructure agenda.
Acceptance speech
Delivering her acceptance speech at the ceremony, Vice President, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang expressed gratitude to the university for the honour and reflected on her long journey with the institution.
She described UCC as a place that shaped both her academic and professional life, noting that it was where she began her higher education and later served in various roles including lecturer, professor and Vice-Chancellor.
“This campus was the backdrop of my life as a student, a national service person, a lecturer with different appointments and responsibilities, a professor and a Vice-Chancellor,” she said.
Knowledge and responsibility
The Vice-President emphasised that education should not only benefit individuals but must also serve society.
According to her, the pursuit of knowledge comes with a responsibility to use education to improve communities and national development.
“The pursuit of knowledge is meant to bring illumination not only for personal benefit but also for the society that made that knowledge possible,” she said.
She stressed that research, evidence and truth must continue to guide national progress, especially in a world where misinformation and uncertainty sometimes threaten public trust in knowledge.
“Knowledge and facts can be buried but never extinguished. In other words, truth is our light,” she stated.
Role of universities
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang noted that since its establishment by Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, UCC had remained a symbol of Ghana’s commitment to education and national development.
She said higher education remained a privilege and those who benefited from it must always reflect on how their knowledge could contribute to society.
She pointed out that the university’s location within surrounding communities was a reminder that academic work must respond to the needs of society.
“Our education tasks us to go beyond theoretical knowledge and make tangible improvements in our nation,” she said.
Mentorship and stewardship
The Vice-President also urged professionals and scholars to serve as mentors and role models to younger generations.
She said individuals who benefited from education must guide and support others so that the next generation could achieve even greater progress.
“We are invited, regardless of our professions or backgrounds, to be somebody else’s teacher, to guide, advise and uplift others,” she stated.
She explained that the true value of knowledge lies not only in discovery but also in how it is passed on to strengthen society.
“If knowledge is meant to light our way, our role is to carefully do the work of discovery and leave the path clearer than we found it,” she added.
Gratitude
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang thanked the University of Cape Coast for the honour, describing it as a deeply humbling recognition.
“I want to thank the University of Cape Coast once more for this exceptional recognition. It leaves me truly humbled and deeply grateful,” she said.
The Distinguished Fellow Award was conferred on the Vice-President by the Chancellor, Sir Sam Jonah, Chairman of UCC Governing Council, Justice Anaam Atuguba and Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Denis Worlanyo Aheto
Source: Anthony Sasu Ayisadu/ATLFMNEWS
